Installation and method for repackaging different medicines from their respective original blister packs into organiser blister packs

Abstract

The invention relates to an installation and a method for repackaging different medicines from their respective original blister packs into organiser blister packs, in particular weekly blister packs for an individual patient having receiving compartments arranged in a matrix configuration with rows corresponding to a number of times medicines are to be taken over the course of a day and columns corresponding to a number of days, for example days of the week. The installation proposed by the invention has a conveying device for singulating and conveying filled original blister packs, an intermediate storage facility with random access for intermediate storage of the original blister packs packed in blister pack supports of standard external dimensions assigned to a respective original blister pack type, and an ejection device for ejecting a defined number of units of a selected medicine from the respective original blister pack into the organiser blister pack.

1 . A method for repackaging a plurality of different medicines from their respective original blister packs into organiser blister packs, comprising:
 assigning the original blister packs filled with medicines to a blister pack support of standard external dimensions provided for the respective original blister pack type,   packing the original blister packs filled with medicines in the assigned blister pack support,   intermediately storing the original blister packs packed into the blister pack supports in an intermediate storage facility,   removing from the intermediate storage facility on request the original blister pack, packed into the blister pack support, for a selected one of the plurality of medicines, and   ejecting a defined number of units of the selected medicine from the original blister pack into the organiser blister pack.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the blister pack supports each comprise a support part with a number of openings for receiving the blister cavities of the original blister pack, a lid part with the same number of openings as ejection openings for the medicines packaged in the original blister pack, and an identifying means for identifying the respective blister pack support. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the blister pack supports comprise different patterns of openings for receiving different original blister packs. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein, during the medicine ejection process, the original blister pack remains in the blister pack support. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the original blister pack is placed onto the blister pack support oriented with its blister cavities facing downwards and the medicines are ejected from the original blister packs in reverse orientation with the blister cavities facing upwards. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the medicines are ejected from the original blister pack into a predispensing magazine and are conveyed from there in a time-decoupled second working step into the organiser blister pack. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising the method step of returning still partly filled original blister packs together with the blister pack support to the intermediate storage facility, while completely empty original blister packs are disposed of. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the organiser blister packs are filled with medicines in accordance with predetermined patient-specific prescription data and the organiser blister packs have receiving compartments for respective medicine-administering units arranged in a matrix configuration in rows corresponding to the number of times medicines are to be taken over the course of a day and columns corresponding to a number of days, for example days of the week. 
     
     
         9 . A system for repackaging a plurality of different medicines from their respective original blister packs into organiser blister packs, comprising:
 a conveying device for singulating and supplying full original blister packs;   an intermediate storage facility with random access for intermediate storage of the original blister packs packed into blister pack supports of standard external dimensions assigned to a respective original blister pack type; and   an ejection device for ejecting a defined number of units of a selected medicine from the respective original blister pack into the organiser blister pack.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the intermediate storage facility is configured as a drawer storage facility. 
     
     
         11 . The system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the blister pack supports each comprise a support part with a number of openings for receiving the blister cavities of the original blister pack, a lid part with the same number of openings as ejection openings for the medicines packaged in the original blister pack, and an identifying means for identifying the respective blister pack support. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the blister pack supports comprise different patterns of openings for receiving different original blister packs. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , comprising a deblistering device with a plurality of different medicine ejection rams, which are each adapted to a specific medicine and/or original blister pack shape and/or the openings of the blister pack support. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of different medicine ejection rams are mounted rotatably about an axis for random access. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 10 , comprising a perforation means for perforating the blister film in the area of the blister cavities of the medicines to be ejected from the original blister pack. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the medicines are ejected from the original blister pack into a predispensing magazine and are conveyed from there in a time-decoupled second working step into the organiser blister pack. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , comprising optical sensor means for verifying proper ejection of the selected medicines from the original blister pack into the predispensing magazine and/or correct filling of the organiser blister packs. 
     
     
         18 . A blister pack support for receiving an original blister pack with medicines packaged therein, comprising a support part with a number of openings for receiving the blister cavities of the original blister pack, a lid part with the same number of openings as ejection openings for the medicines packaged in the original blister pack, and an identifying means for identifying the blister pack support. 
     
     
         19 . A blister pack support according to  claim 18 , comprising different patterns of openings for receiving differently shaped original blister packs. 
     
     
         20 . A blister pack support according to  claim 19 , wherein the lid part is mounted on the support part by means of a hinge. 
     
     
         21 . A blister pack support according to  claim 19 , wherein the identifying means is an RFID chip.